Baseball tally card

ABSTRACT

(A baseball tally card having a number of indicator tab strips slidably mounted behind a flat, rigid front plate with a number of apertures therein and with indicia for first, second and third base, as well as balls, strikes, outs and hits. The card also has three rotating discs for recording runs and indicating the current inning. The tab strips extend from across the respective apetures to beyond the edge of the card so that they may be grasped by a spectator and pushed or pulled to the desired position relative to the respective aperture. The rotatable discs have a circumferential portion extending beyond the edge of the card so that the disc may be turned by finger movement to place numerals printed thereon in the respective aperture.

United States Patent [1 1 Denega et a]. 1 Sept. 4, 1973 1 1 BASEBALL TALLY CARD 3,200,517 4/1965 DAgostino 40 70 R x 31 b [76] Inventors ga i ggfggi g ifiz f Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Edward s. Freska, 3086 Lincoln Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff Blvd, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Attorney-McCoy, Greene & Howell 441 18 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled: Dec; 1971 (A baseball tally card having a number of indicator tab Appl. No.: 204,945

strips slidably mounted behind a flat, rigid front plate with a number of apertures therein and with indicia for first, second and third base, as well as balls, strikes, outs and hits. The card also has three rotating discs for recording runs and indicating the current inning. The tab strips extend from across the respective apetures to beyond the edge of the card so that they may be grasped by a spectator and pushed or pulled to the desired position relative to the respective aperture. The rotatable discs have a circumferential portion extending beyond the edge of the card so that the disc may be turned by finger movement to place numerals printed thereon in the respective aperture.)

1 Claim, 3 Drawing [Figures 39L01L A40 HITS BASEBALL TALLY CARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tally cards for use by a spectator at baseball games and the like and especially to a tally card with mechanical means and visual indicia for recording desired information as to the status of the game without writing or otherwise manually marking the desired information on the card. More particularly the invention relates to a baseball game status keeping tally card that enables a spectator to mechanically record and maintain a visual record of current baseball game information such as whether or nota man is on a particular base, the count as to balls and strikes on a particular batter, the number of outs, the number of hits by each team and the number of runs (i.e., the score) as well as the current inning.

Baseball game tally cards have in the prior art normally been of the one-time-use variety wherein the necessary information is marked on the card by the spectator using a writing implement or the like. With this old arrangement a new card is required by the spectator for each game he attends or observes.

The tally card of the present invention, however, eliminates the need for a new tally card for each game and affords other features and advantages heretofore not obtainable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is among the objects of the invention to enable a spectator at a baseball game to make a visual record and reference reflecting the current status of the game as to the bases currently occupied, the count on a batter, the number of outs during the current half of a par ticular inning, the total number of hits in the game, the score of the game and the current inning.

Another object is to provide a means for making a visual record and reference of the type described above without need for marking the desired information with a writing tool.

Still another object is to provide a baseball tally card wherein the visual indications made during the game as to the status of various aspects of the game may be quickly erased, preparatory to use of the card for another game et seq.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of a baseball tally card comprising a flat, rigid face plate having a front surface with pertinent indicia marked thereon and a plurality of apertures including apertures for the three bases located appropriately on a depiction of a baseball diamond. In order to record the count on a batter, three aligned apertures are provided for indicating from one to three balls on the batter and two aligned apertures are provided for indicating up to two strikes on the batter. Also, two aligned apertures are provided for indicating up to two outs during the respective half of a particular inning. Also provided are apertures for indicating the number of hits for each team and additional apertures for indicating runs. Finally, another aperture is provided for indicating the current inning.

Also provided are a number of manually operable indicator tab strips and indicator discs all having either contrasting visual indicia printed thereon as in the case of the tab strips or appropriate numerals printed consecutively thereon in a concentric are as to the indicator discs. The tab strips are slidably mounted behind the rigid face plate while the indicator discs are rotatably mounted. ()ne slidable tab is provided for each of the base" apertures, one each for the three ball apertures, the two strike apertures and the two outs" apertures. Each of the tabs is moveable between progressive positions wherein one indicia appears in as many as all of the respective apertures.

Indicator tabs are provided for each of the hits apertures, and they are slidable between a plurality of positions wherein the boundary line between the contrasting indicia thereon registers with a hits scale marked adjacent each hits aperture. Each of the two runs discs is pivotally mounted on the b ack of the face plate and has a number of numerals printed in sequence thereon in an arc concentric with the pivot point so that the rotary motion of each disc relative to its respective aperture determines which numeral will be located in the respective aperture. The same arrangement is provided in connection with the innings disc.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a baseball tally card embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale with the front plate of the tally card removed to illustrate the location of the various indicator tab strips and indicator discs in the base plate; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the face plate alone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown a baseball tally card consisting of a rigid face plate 10, formed for example of cardboard, and a rigid back plate III also formed of rigid cardboard and of the same overall size as the face plate 10. Appropriate indicia is marked on the face of the plate 10 including a baseball diamond l2 and other indicia to be discussed in more detail below. A number of apertures are formed at appropriate locations in. the front of sheet 10 including first, second and third base apertures 13, 14 and 15 respectively all located in representative positions in the baseball diamond 12.

Located adjacent the upper right hand edge of the card are three aligned balls apertures l6, l7 and 18 respectively, two aligned strike" apertures 19 and 20,

and two aligned outs" apertures 2i and 22. These three groups of apertures are all alinged parallel to the top and bottom edges of the card.

Located on the upper left hand portion of the card are two elongated rectangular hits" apertures 23 and 24 each of which has indicia in the form of a numbered scale along one edge thereof, the numbers on the scales representing the numbers of hits for the team in connection with which the particular aperture is to be used. Located at the top of the from sheet 10 in the left hand corner and right hand corner, respectively, are two runs" apertures 25 and 26, one aperture for each team. Finally, located in the center of the front sheet it) closely adjacent the top edge thereof is an inning" aperture 27.

It will be seen that the apertures 16 through 27 provide windows in which pertinent indicia may be located (FIG. l) to provide the various types of information to be used by a spectator for maintaining his visual record and reference reflecting the status of the game at any particular moment during its progress The appropriate indicia is located in the respective aperture by means of a plurality of tab strips on one hand and by rotatable discs on the other hand the location and construction of which may be best seen from FIG. 2. The tab strips and discs are all received in recesses formed in the back plate to provide for and limit the movement thereof. The tab strips are slidably located between the face plate and the back plate 11 in the recesses as will be described in greater detail below (see FIG. 2).

The tab strips include three strips 31, 32 and 33 for each of the base apertures 13, 14 and 15 respectively, the strips 31, 32 and 33 extending from a position overlying the apertures, downwardly to the lower edge of the face plate 10 with the ends thereof protruding sufficiently to permit grasping thereof by a spectator and sliding movement of the strip to position certain visual indicia in the respective aperture. The strips have the upper portion thereof printed in black (FIG. 2) to indicate a base occupied condition in the respective aperture and the adjacent portion in the natural white color of the strip to indicate a base unoccupied condition. When the tab is pushed to a full in position, as illustrated by the position of tab strip 33 in FIG. 1, a white indicia is seen in the respective window. When the tab is pulled out (see tab 31 in FIG. 1), the black indicia is seen in the window indicating that the base is occuied.

p Each of the respective balls, strikes" and outs apertures 16 through 22 has a tab strip 34, 35 and 36 respectively, slidably mounted in their respective recess in the back plate 11 and having a red indicia printed on the inward portion thereof. The remaining portion is the natural white color of the strip. The three strips 34, 35 and 36 extend from an inward position wherein only a white color shows through the respective windows and a fully pulled position wherein each of the respective aligned windows has a red indicia therein. The tabs extend to the right hand edge of the sheet so that they may be readily grasped and pushed and pulled by the spectator.

Each of the hits apertures 23 and 24 has a tab strip 37 and 38 underlying it in such a way that a red indicia printed on the right hand end of the respective strip forms a boundary line between the red portion and the white portion which may be slid to a position relative to the hits" numerals adjacent the apertures 23 and 24 to indicate the number of hits for each team. Each of the tabs extends to the left hand edge of the front sheet 10 where it may be grasped by the spectator and pushed or pulled as necessary.

The recesses 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 (FIG. 2) for the tab strips 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 respectively, each have an enlarged rectangular inner portion adapted to-slidably receive an enlarged rectangular inner portion of the respective tab. As will be apparent from FIG. 2, the tabs are slidable between inward and outward limit positions defined by and resulting from the shape of the particular recess and its respective tab.

The number of runs for each team is shown in each of the two windows 25 and 26 by means of runs discs 39 and 40 respectively, which have the numerals 1 to printed thereon and are concentric with the pivot point for the disc. The pivotable mounting is accomplished by an appropriate rivet, connecting the respective disc at its geometric center to the back plate 11. The numerals printed around the respective discs 39 and 40 are concentric with the pivot point thereof and are radially spaced so as to pass through the respective apertures 25 and 26. The upper marginal portion of each of the discs 39 and 40 extends beyond the upper margin at the top of the card 10 so that the spectator may turn the discs with his thumb or finger to place the correct number in the respective aperture, 25 and 26 as the score increases.

The inning disc 41 is mounted in the upper portion of the card 10 in the same manner as the discs 39 and 40 and functions in essentially the same manner as is apparent from the drawings.

From the above description it will be seen that the spectator during the progress of the baseball game being observed can record and maintain the complete visual status information on the game merely by pushing or pulling the strips 31 through 38 and by turning the discs 39 to 41 to locate the proper indicia in the apertures 13 to 27.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to a specific embodiment thereof this is for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation and other variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a careful reading of the specification and claims. Accordingly, the patent is not to be limited to the particular embodiment shown and described herein nor in any other way which is inconsistent with the extent to which the progress in the art has been advanced by the invention.

We claim:

1. A baseball tally device comprising a flat rigid rectangular face plate having a front surface with indicia marked thereon and a plurality of apertures including lst base, 2nd base and 3rd base apertures, three aligned ball apertures, two aligned strike apertures, two aligned outs" apertures, two elongated hits aperture one for each team, and two runs" aperture one for each team; a rigid rectangular back plate coextensive with and affixed to the rear surface of said face plate, said back plate having a plurality of L-shaped recesses formed therein, said recesses having enlarged rectangular inner portions which comprise the foot of said L-shapes, a plurality of manually operable L- shaped indicator tab strips having enlarged foot portions matingly received in their respective cooperating recesses, and said tab strips comprising two contrasting visual indicia one of which is coextensive with each of said foot portions of said tab strips, said tab strips being, slidably mounted between said face plate and said back plate, each of said tab strips engaging one of said recesses and juxtaposed into selective registry with a respective one of said apertures in said face plate, said tab strips including one tab strip for each of said ball, strike and outs" apertures respectively, each of said ball, strike and outs" tab strips being movable between progressive positions so that one of said conlrasting visual indicia selectively appears in from none to all of said respective apertures, a tab strip for each of said hits apertures slidable between a plurality of positions wherein the boundary line between said contrasting indicia thereon registers with a hits scale marked in said face plate adjacent said hits" aperture; and two runs discs and means for pivotably mounting said discs between said face and back plates, one of said discs disposed adjacent each of said runs apertures and having a plurality of run" numerals printed thereon whereby the rotary position of each disc relative to its respective aperture determines which numovement in a respective recess whereby each tab strip is slidable between inward and outward limit positions defined by cooperation between the enlarged inner portion of its respective recess and the enlarged inner meral will be located in said aperture, each of said tab 5 portion of said strips.

strips being received and confined for limited sliding 

1. A baseball tally device comprising a flat rigid rectangular face plate having a front surface with indicia marked thereon and a plurality of apertures including 1st base, 2nd base and 3rd base apertures, three aligned ''''ball'''' apertures, two aligned ''''strike'''' apertures, two aligned '''' outs'''' apertures, two elongated ''''hits'''' aperture one for each team, and two ''''runs'''' aperture one for each team; a rigid rectangular back plate coextensive with and affixed to the rear surface of said face plate, said back plate having a plurality of L-shaped recesses formed therein, said recesses having enlarged rectangular inner portions which comprise the foot of said L-shapes, a plurality of manually operable L-shaped indicator tab strips having enlarged foot portions matingly received in their respective cooperating recesses, and said tab strips comprising two contrasting visual indicia one of which is coextensive with each of said foot portions of said tab strips, said tab strips being, slidably mounted between said face plate and said back plate, each of said tab strips engaging one of said recesses and juxtaposed into selective registry with a respective one of said apertures in said face plate, said tab strips including one tab strip for each of said ''''ball'''', ''''strike'''' and ''''outs'''' apertures respectively, each of said ''''ball'''', ''''strike'''' and ''''outs'''' tab strips being movable between progressive positions so that one of said con1rasting visual indicia selectively appears in from none to all of said respective apertures, a tab strip for each of said ''''hits'''' apertures slidable between a plurality of positions wherein the boundary line between said contrasting indicia thereon registers with a ''''hits'''' scale marked in said face plate adjacent said ''''hits'''' aperture; and two ''''runs'''' discs and means for pivotably mounting said discs between said face and back plates, one of said discs disposed adjacent each of said ''''runs'''' apertures and having a plurality of ''''run'''' numerals printed thereon whereby the rotary position of each disc relative to its respective aperture determines which numeral will be located in said aperture, each of said tab strips being received and confined for limited sliding movement in a respective recess whereby each tab strip is slidable between inward and outward limit positions defined by cooperation between the enlarged inner portion of its respective recess and the enlarged inner portion of said strips. 